Cuban doctor in the U.S.: "The Cuban healthcare system is today a dying organism, corroded by misery."

The Cuban doctor Manuel Guerra, who left Cuba in 2022 after State Security threatened to imprison him for his criticisms of the regime, stated that the health care system on the island is “a dying organism, corroded by misery.”

In a social media post, Guerra denounced the deterioration of hospitals, the lack of medications and the mass exodus of professionals, in a testimony that contrasts with the official narrative of “medical power.”

The professional —trained in Cuba, now residing in the U.S. and about to validate his license— argues that the state discourse conceals a “painful” reality: crumbling facilities, empty pharmacies, and the export of doctors as “diplomatic merchandise.”

“Free services without quality are an illusion; a system lacking resources, freedom, and ethics cannot save anyone,” he summarized.

According to their account, in 2023 more than 13,000 doctors left the national system, leaving empty clinics and unattended rooms; furthermore, they claim that more than 70% of essential medicines are missing and that hospital infrastructure is falling apart with crumbling walls and operating rooms without light or water.

The doctor recounts a recent injury at work (stable fibula fracture) and describes an "immediate and humane" care circuit: accurate diagnosis, labor insurance coverage, medications, braces, crutches, and follow-up within hours, without rationing or prolonged waits.

It also mentions that it has family insurance paid for with its salary and taxes.

The testimony criticizes that, while Cuba sends brigades, the population inside the country begs for basic medications.

As a contrast, it cites American programs like Vaccine for Children, which ensures childhood immunization regardless of insurance status, and points out that, despite its challenges, the U.S. system is “more robust and functional” than the Cuban one.

The doctor concludes with a call to restore health dignity and for the white coat to once again symbolize vocation, not political servitude.

Manuel Guerra, known for his opposition to the Castro regime, left Cuba in 2022, after his mother pleaded with him to leave before he ended up in prison.

He arrived in the United States in March of that year, after crossing several borders with his pregnant partner. In September, he announced the birth of their first child, whom they named Ian.

In April of last year, he obtained a license as a medical assistant in the United States.

Frequently asked questions about the state of the health system in Cuba